Cathode structure for vapor-converters.



INVENTOR ATTORNEY S. W. FARNSWORTH.

CATHODE STRUCTURE FOR VAPOR CONVERTERS.

KPPLICATION FILE D DEC.2. I915.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

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SIDNEY W. FARNSVVORTH. OF PITTSBURGH. PENNSYLVANIA.

ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY. ACORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

CATHODE STRUCTURE FOR VAPOR-CONVERTERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

Application filed December 2. 1915. Serial No. 64,641.

1 ball 1071 one it may concern:

Be it known that I. Smxnv W. FARNswon'rii. a citizen of the l nitedStates, and a resident of littsburglniu the county of Allegheny andState of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement: inCathode Structures for Vapor-(onvertei-s. of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to metal-case converters provided with insulatedreconstructing cathodes. and it has for its object to provide meanswhereby condensed cathode material may be cleansed from dirt andreturned to a position for active use with little or no disturbance ofthe normal operation of the apparatus.

In the accompanying drawing. Figure 1 is a side view of a vaporconverter. partially in section and partially in elevation, illustratinga preferred form of my invention; and Figs. 2 and 3 are detail viewsillustrating modifications of the device shown in Fig. 1.

In my copending application, Serial No. 870.079. filed Nov. 6, 1914, Ihave described and claimed a vapor converter of the metalcase typeprovided with a liquid cathode in contact with the bottom thereof, saidconverter being equipped with means for filtering out dirt from thecondensed cathode material and for returning said material to the activeportion of the cathode. By the present invention, I provide meanswhereby a similar function is performed in a converter provided with aninsulated cathode. special means being provided for preventing thetransfer of the are to the wall of the container.

Referring to the drawing for a more detailed understanding of myinvention, the container of a converter of the metal-case type is shownat 4 and is provided .with an anode 5 projecting through and insulatedfrom the cover thereof and .with a cathode 6 lying in the bottom thereofand insulated therefrom by tin-insulating cup 7. Current may be suppliedto the cathode 6 by a conductor projecting thereinto but I prefer toemploy conducting cooling tubes 8, projecting through the cover and intothe body of the cathode 6, for conveying current thereto. The use ofcooling tubes is desirable because the insulating cup 7 interferes withthe transfer of heat from the cathode 6 to the exterior of thecontainer. An opening 9 is provided in the side of the cup 7 above thesurface of the cathodetl, and a spout to. pret crably constructed ofrefractory insulating material. extends therefrom to a point heneath thesurface oi the cathode (3. The annular space surrounding the cup 7 isfilled with a pool 11 ct cathode material to the level of the opening 9.and a pair of filtering rings 12 and 13 project downwardly thereinto.being surmounted by a roof member 11. The entire cathode structure,including the cup 7 and the filtering rings, is firmly anchored to thebottom of the converter by anv suitable means, such, for example. as,holding-down screws 15. An are-retaining ring 16 is preferably placedwithin the cup 7 and rests upon the cooling coil.

Having thus described the construction of a converter embodying myinvention. the operation is as follows. Upon breaking down thenegative-electrode reluctance of the cathode 6 by any suitable means.not shown. a power are flows from the anode 5 to said cathode, currentflowing from the cathode through the material of the tubes 8 to theexterior of the device. A large amount of material is thrown off by thecathode 6. in the form of mercury vapor and globules. and condenses uponthe walls of the container whence it drips to the extreme outer portionof the pool 15, carry- 1112 with it such dirt as is coll cted from thewalls of the container. The dirt is produced by a variety of causes,such as imperfect cleaning of the case prior to the closure thereof andto the destructive bombardment upon the anode and walls of the device.The level of the pool 11 rises because of said accretions of materialuntil a globule is forced over the lip of the opening 9 and slides downthe tube 10. coalescing with the material of the cathode proper. It willbe noted that the returning cathode material must descend beneath thelower edge of the filtering ring 12 before reaching the opening 9.Substantially all the dirt accumulated remains floating on the surfaceof the pool 11 outside the ring 13. and such dirt as passes under thelower edge of said ring 13 tends to rise and become entrapped betweenthe two filter ng rings. whereby an extremely efiicient filtering actionis produeed.

In impact of globules of returning cathode material upon the surface ofan active cathode tends to disturb the action thereof, and it will benoted that, by my structure, the returning globules coalesce with thematerial of the cathode 6 within the tube or spout '10 where thedisturbance of the cathode surface is absolutely shielded from theaction of the are and, furthermore, cathode material is ejected fromsaid spout exterior to the arc-retaining ring 16, whereby even lessdisturbance of the normal operation of the device is permitted.

Referring to the form of my device shown in Fig. 2, the various partsshown are denoted by the same characters as in F 1g. 1 and, instead ofproviding a spout 10, I form an integral member 17 upon the wall of thecup 7 for the return of the cathode material. By said construction, Iprovide a compact structure that is not liable to breakage.

I may, if desired, obtain a filtering action, similar to that producedin Fig. 1 by the rings 12 and 13, by extending the integral member 17over and doWn outside the cup 7 to a point beneath the pool 11, as shownin Fig. 3.

In this application, I am not claiming broadly the feature of returningcondensed cathode material to an insulated cathode in the form ofglobules, as such action is described and claimed in U. S. Patent No.1,101,665, issued to the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Companyon June 30, 1914, on an application filed by Yasudiro Sakai, but I makeprovision for effectively filtering and shielding said cathode material,

While I have shown my invention in its preferred form. it willbe-obvious to those skilled in the art that it is susceptible of variousminor changes and modifications without departing from the spiritthereof. and I desire. therefore, that only such limitations shall beplaced thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or are specifically setforth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a vapor converter, the combination with an insulating cathodereceptacle, of a reconstructing cathode therein. a body of cathodematerial exterior to said receptacle and arranged to receive condensedcathode material, means for shielding a portion of the cathode surfacefrom the arc, and means for transferring cathode material from saidexterior body to a point below said shielded cathode surface.

2. In a vapor converter, the combination with an insulating cathodereceptacle, of a reconstructing cathode therein, a body of cathodematerial exterior to said receptacle and arranged to receive condensedcathode material, and means for transferring cathode material from saidexterior body to a portion of said active cathode beneath the surfacethereof without electrically connecting said two bodies of cathodematerial and for shielding said transferred material from the are untilit has coalesced with the body of the active cathode.

3. In a vapor converter, the combination with an insulating receptacle,of a reconstructing cathode therein,a body of cathode material exteriorto said receptacle and arranged to receive,condensed cathode matcrial.and means for transferring cathode material from said exterior body to ashielded portion of the surface of said active cathode in the form ofseparate globules. whereby the formation ,of a conductive bridge betweensaid exterior body and said active cathode is prevented.

4. In a vapor converter, the combination with an insulating cathodereceptacle, of a reconstructing cathode therein, a body of cathodematerial exterior to said receptacle and arranged to receive condensedcathode material, and means for transferring cathode material from apoint beneath the surface of said exterior body to a point beneath thesurface of said active cathode without electrically connecting said twobodies of cathode material.

5. In a vapor converter, the combination with an insulating cathodereceptacle, of a reconstructing cathode therein, a body of cathodematerial exterior to said receptacle and arranged to receive condensedcathode material, means for shielding a portion of the surface of saidcathode, and means for transferring cathode material in the form of 10aseparate globules from a point beneath the surface of said exterior bodyto said shielded surface of the active cathode.

6. In a vapor converter, the combination with an insulating cathodereceptacle, of a 10;,

reconstructing cathode therein, a body of cathode material exterior tosaid receptacle and arranged to receive condensed cathode material, andmeans for providing a closed insulating chamber extending from said ex-110 terior body to a point beneath the surface of said cathode, saidcondensed cathode material returning to the active cathode through saidchamber in distinct globules.

7. In a vapor converter, the combination 115 with an insulating cathodereceptacle, of a reconstructing cathode therein, a body of cathodematerial exterior to said receptacle and arranged to receive condensedcathode material, and means for providing a closed 120 chamber from apoint in said exterior body beneath the surface thereof to a point insaid cathode beneath the surface thereof.

8. In a metal-case vapor converter, the

combination with an insulating receptacle, 12a

of a reconstructing cathode therein, a refractory insulating ringpartially submerged in the material of said cathode for limiting theaction of the are to a portion only of the cathode surface, and meansfor we returning condensed cathode material to said cathode exterior tosaid ring.

9. In a metal-case vapor converter, the combination with an insulatingreceptacle, of a reconstructing cathode therein, a refractory insulatingring partially submerged in the material of said cathode for limitingthe action of the arc to a portion only of the cathode surface, meansfor causing condensed cathode material to collect exterior to saidreceptacle, and means for intermittently returning said cathode materialto said cathode at a point beneath the surface thereof and exterior tosaid ring.

10. In a metal-case vapor converter, the

combination with an insulating receptacle, of a reconstructing cathodetherein, a refractory insulating ring partially submerged in thematerial of said cathode for limiting the action of the are to a portiononly of the cathode surface, means for causing condensed cathodematerial to collect exterior to said receptacle, and means forintermittently returning said cathode material to said cathode at apoint beneath the surface thereof and exterior to said ring.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th dayof Nov.,

SIDNEY W. FARNSW'ORTH.

